This bill allows licensed creative arts therapists (as defined under New York's Education Law Article 163) to bill Medicaid directly for their services. It amends the social services law to explicitly include these therapists in the list of providers permitted to bill Medicaid directly for covered mental health services. The change affects creative arts therapists who currently provide services within their scope of practice but may have previously needed intermediaries to access Medicaid reimbursement. The bill does not alter their scope of practice or expand covered services - it only changes the billing mechanism. This would streamline payment for these therapists while maintaining existing Medicaid coverage rules.
This bill amends New York's education law to clarify supervision requirements for marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. It specifies that applicants must complete 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience (for mental health counselors) or 1,500 client contact hours (for marriage and family therapists), all under qualified supervisors. Supervisors must hold at least 3 years of licensure, have diagnostic privileges, and complete 36 hours of continuing education in supervision ethics. The bill also allows the department to accept supervised experience obtained in waiver-exempt settings or under good-faith belief of proper authorization. These changes directly affect therapists seeking licensure and those providing supervision in mental health practice.
Relates to dispensing certain controlled substances for use by a person with a substance use disorder during certain emergency medical treatment, or to relieve acute withdrawal symptoms.
S 5860 modernizes New York's chiropractic practice laws by expanding what licensed chiropractors can legally do. The bill allows chiropractors to use diagnostic imaging (like X-rays), provide nutritional counseling, dispense approved supplements, and perform certain soft tissue treatments - previously restricted under older rules. It also authorizes chiropractic clinical assistants to support licensed practitioners under supervision. This directly affects chiropractors and their patients in New York, clarifying scope boundaries without permitting drug prescriptions or surgical procedures. The bill passed the Senate in June 2025 and is now pending in the Assembly's Higher Education committee.
Relates to the construction of facilities for chemical dependence services that promote the privacy of individuals while bathing, sleeping, using restrooms and receiving individual counseling services, while also allowing for maximization of the use of such facility.
Establishes an employee mental health services program for all employees who work for the department of corrections and community supervision and all employees of the office of mental health who deliver services to incarcerated individuals overseen by the department of corrections and community supervision.
Directs the commissioner of health shall promulgate regulations allowing for any electronic health records integration vendor to obtain state approval to facilitate interoperability between the prescription monitoring program registry and certified electronic health records systems that can connect with any national data sharing hub.
Authorizes the transfer of pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals to residential treatment facilities; requires annual reporting on the number of such incarcerated individuals transferred.
This bill requires most health insurance policies in New York to cover diabetes and prediabetes screening at no cost to the patient. It applies to policies covering physician services or major medical coverage, mandating that insurers include screening per national evidence-based guidelines without deductibles, copays, or other cost-sharing. The law affects health insurance companies and their policyholders who need preventive diabetes screening. Coverage must be provided free of charge for all qualifying policies issued or renewed after the effective date.
This bill (S 3100) requires most health insurance policies in New York to cover specific asthma treatments and education. It mandates coverage for asthma equipment like rescue inhalers, spacers, and nebulizers, plus school equipment for children under 19. The bill also requires coverage for certified asthma self-management education - teaching patients about proper device use, environmental triggers, and treatment - limited to medically necessary visits after diagnosis or symptom changes. Insurance plans may still apply standard deductibles/coinsurance for these benefits. The policy directly affects New Yorkers with asthma and their families, ensuring access to essential equipment and education through their insurance.
